Prayer

A group of women carry out a prayer on the Ganges River, Assi Ghat, Varanasi, India

A group of women carry out a prayer on the Ganges River, Assi Ghat, Varanasi, India

Durga idols are recovered from the Hooghly River after being immersed during the Durga Puja idols, Babughat, Kolkata, India. The idols are recovered to avoid polluting the river. They're made from straw and river clay, but the paints are not eco-friendly.

A group of women carry out a prayer on the Ganges River, Assi Ghat, Varanasi, India

A group of women carry out a prayer on the Ganges River, Assi Ghat, Varanasi, India

Workers string limes and peppers, which are used as a sort of good luck charm, at a shop in Kalighat, Kolata, India

We got Kumkum a sewing machine. She wants to be a fashion designer.

We helped Lichhma get kidney stone surgery and end years of misery

Prayer wheel in a meadow near Phyang Gompa, near Leh, Ladakh, India

Children participate in immersion of Ganesh idols in the Yamuna River during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, Delhi, India

Families immerse idols of Ganesh in the Yamuna River during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Delhi, India

A mother applies mascara to her daughter as they pray during the Dussehra festival in Kullu, India

A couple hold hands while swimming along the Yamuna River during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, Delhi, India

Altars in Matho Gompa, Ladakh, India

Golden idol of Lord Raghunath during the Dussehra festival in Kullu, India

Sisters offer a prayer during immersion of Ganesh idols in the Yamuna River during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, Delhi, India

A man carries an idol during the Dussehra festival in Kullu India

Aarti on the Ganges River during Diwali in Haridwar, India

Altars in Matho Gompa, Ladakh, India

A toddler covered in red gulal powder during immersion of Ganesh idols in the Yamuna River for the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, Delhi, India

Cedar fronds are burned during prayers during the Dussehra festival in Kullu, India

Golden idol of Lord Raghunath during the Dussehra festival in Kullu, India

Swastikas made from rice in a Hindu prayer ceremony, Haridwar, India

Diwali aarti on Har Ki Pauri ghat, Haridwar, India

A man in a star spangled headwrap prays at a Hindu temple during the celebration of Dussehra in Kullu, India

A woman whispers her wishes in the ear of a Ganesh idol during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival on the Yamnu River in Delhi, India

Men carry idols of Lord Raghunath during the Dussehra festival in Kullu, India

A man and his daughter during immersion of Ganesh idols in the Yamuna River for the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, Delhi, India

Hindu pilgrims perform rituals during Diwali in Haridwar, India

Women pray in the Ganges River, Haridwar, India

Prayer wheel at Spituk Gompa, Leh, Ladakh, India

A man launches a diya on the Ganges River, Haridwar, India

Hindu pilgrims observe Diwali in Haridwar, India

Impressionistic view of a crowd observing Diwali in Haridwar, India, made by moving the camera during a long exposure

Buddhist monks play music during prayers in Matho Gompa, Ladakh, India

Hindu priests at Raghunath Temple during the Dussehra festival in Kullu India

Hindu pilgrims celebrate Diwali in Haridwar, India

Brass bells and bowls at a monastery in Choglamsar, Ladakh, India

A woman prays during the Dussehra festival in Kullu, India

A man and his daughter during immersion of Ganesh idols in the Yamuna River for the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, Delhi, India

Families immerse idols of Ganesh in the Yamuna River during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Delhi, India

A buddhist monk inside the Spituk Gompa monastery, Leh, Ladakh, India

Diwali aarti on Har Ki Pauri ghat, Haridwar, India

Monk in Spituk Gompa, Leh, Ladakh, India

, Haridwar, India

A boy's feet are covered in orange gulal powder during immersion of Ganesh idols in the Yamuna River during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, Delhi, India

An elderly woman prays during pilgrimage in Pushkar, Rajasthan, India

Mani wall near Hemis Gompa, Ladakh, India

A woman prays during immersion of Ganesh idols in the Yamuna River for the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, Delhi, India

A woman lights candles along the Ganges River while observing Diwali in Haridwar, India

A family prays at a temple, Budha Pushkar, Rajasthan, India

A family prays at a temple, Budha Pushkar, Rajasthan, India

A man and his son pray under a large fig tree, which is considered sacred, Udaipur Kalan village, Rajasthan, India

A family prays at a temple, Budha Pushkar, Rajasthan, India

A family prays at a temple, Budha Pushkar, Rajasthan, India

Garlands and other tools of prayer in a small temple, Badlya, Rajasthan, India

Offerings on the banks of the Ganges River during Chhath Puja, Varanasi, India. Chhath Puja is a devotion to the Sun God Surya in which people gather at sunset and then on the following sunrise and offer prayers.

A family offers prayer in the form of dancing with smoking ghatam clay pots during the Durga Puja festival, Babughat, Kolkata, India

Durga idols are recovered from the Hooghly River after being immersed during the Durga Puja idols, Babughat, Kolkata, India. The idols are recovered to avoid polluting the river. They're made from straw and river clay, but the paints are not eco-friendly.

Durga idols are recovered from the Hooghly River after being immersed during the Durga Puja idols, Babughat, Kolkata, India. The idols are recovered to avoid polluting the river. They're made from straw and river clay, but the paints are not eco-friendly.

Hindu devotees await sunrise on the Ganges River during Chhath Puja, Varanasi, India. Chhath Puja is a devotion to the Sun God Surya in which people gather at sunset and then on the following sunrise and offer prayers.

Hindu devotees await sunrise on the Ganges River during Chhath Puja, Varanasi, India. Chhath Puja is a devotion to the Sun God Surya in which people gather at sunset and then on the following sunrise and offer prayers.

Hindus pray for deceased relatives along the Hooghly River (aka Ganges) during Mahalaya, Babughat, Kolkata, India

A woman crafts small mud scupltures adorned with flowers as part of a Hindu prayer, Assi Ghat, Varanasi, India

A man photographs a Durga Puja idol during immersion in the Hooghly River, Babughat, Kolkata, India

More than 20,000 Muslims pray during Eid al-Adha Red Road, Madian, Kolkata, India. I have the only photos taken by a foreigner of this most important day to Muslims at the most auspicious site in Kolkata for both 2012 and 2013.

A woman prays at sunset along the Ganges River during Chhath Puja, Varanasi, India. Chhath Puja is a devotion to the Sun God Surya in which people gather at sunset and then on the following sunrise and offer prayers.

A woman prays on the Ganges River during Chhath Puja, Varanasi, India. Chhath Puja is a devotion to the Sun God Surya in which people gather at sunset and then on the following sunrise and offer prayers.

A woman prays on the Ganges River during Chhath Puja, Varanasi, India. Chhath Puja is a devotion to the Sun God Surya in which people gather at sunset and then on the following sunrise and offer prayers.

Durga idols are recovered from the Hooghly River after being immersed during the Durga Puja idols, Babughat, Kolkata, India. The idols are recovered to avoid polluting the river. They're made from straw and river clay, but the paints are not eco-friendly.

A woman prostrates herself every few steps as an exercise in religious asceticism, Assi Ghat, Varanasi, India

A woman prays on the Ganges River during Chhath Puja, Varanasi, India. Chhath Puja is a devotion to the Sun God Surya in which people gather at sunset and then on the following sunrise and offer prayers.

A woman releases a candle into the Ganges River, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, India

A woman prays on the Ganges River during Chhath Puja, Varanasi, India. Chhath Puja is a devotion to the Sun God Surya in which people gather at sunset and then on the following sunrise and offer prayers.

Ganga Aarti, a nightly prayer to the Ganges River that takes place at Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, India

Ladies pray at sunset along the Ganges River during Chhath Puja, Varanasi, India. Chhath Puja is a devotion to the Sun God Surya in which people gather at sunset and then on the following sunrise and offer prayers.

A boy plays drums during Chhath Puja, Varanasi, India. Chhath Puja is a devotion to the Sun God Surya in which people gather at sunset and then on the following sunrise and offer prayers.

Offerings on the banks of the Ganges River during Chhath Puja, Varanasi, India. Chhath Puja is a devotion to the Sun God Surya in which people gather at sunset and then on the following sunrise and offer prayers.

Ganga Aarti, a nightly prayer to the Ganges River that takes place at Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, India

A woman prays on the Ganges River during Chhath Puja, Varanasi, India. Chhath Puja is a devotion to the Sun God Surya in which people gather at sunset and then on the following sunrise and offer prayers.

Girl at a school in Varanasi, India operated by Dutch NGO Duniya (duniya.org)

Offerings on the banks of the Ganges River during Chhath Puja, Varanasi, India. Chhath Puja is a devotion to the Sun God Surya in which people gather at sunset and then on the following sunrise and offer prayers.

A toddler girl prays to her family's idol of the goddess Durga along the Hooghly River during the Durga Puja festival, Babughat, Kolkata, India

A woman prays at sunset along the Ganges River during Chhath Puja, Varanasi, India. Chhath Puja is a devotion to the Sun God Surya in which people gather at sunset and then on the following sunrise and offer prayers.

Durga idols are recovered from the Hooghly River after being immersed during the Durga Puja idols, Babughat, Kolkata, India. The idols are recovered to avoid polluting the river. They're made from straw and river clay, but the paints are not eco-friendly.